Coaching not the end for Vermont's class act

February 14, 2005|By Teddy Greenstein, Tribune staff reporter.

"If he hadn't agreed to redshirt, we weren't going to take him," Brennan says. "How about that, huh? Real smart."

Coppenrath earned conference rookie-of-the-year honors as a freshman and was named player of the year as a sophomore and a junior, joining the late Reggie Lewis of Northeastern and Malik Rose of Drexel as the league's only back-to-back winners.

Coppenrath hit the national stage with a 38-point performance last season at UCLA, then did even better in the conference title game against Maine. With the home crowd chanting "You can't stop him!" Coppenrath scored 43 points in Vermont's 72-53 victory.

Brennan likes to joke about calling Coppenrath's father, George, and asking him, "What's it like to wake up in West Barnet, Vt., and realize you've sired Seabiscuit?"

Many project Coppenrath, who ranks third in the nation with a 24.3 points-per-game average, as a late first-round NBA pick. But he would rather talk about his future beyond basketball.

In the fall Coppenrath was a student teacher at nearby Colchester High School, tutoring 9th-graders in algebra and trigonometry.

"There's a satisfaction you get from watching kids learn," he says. "When you can get that light bulb to click, you're so happy."

Sorrentine, meanwhile, hopes to play in Italy after his superb college career. During Coppenrath's freshman season, Sorrentine was named America East player of the year after averaging 18.8 points per game.

That off-season Sorrentine played in a summer league at Providence College amid speculation he would upgrade conferences by transferring to Providence of the Big East or Rhode Island of the Atlantic 10.

"Everybody from home was saying, `What are you doing up there?'" Sorrentine says. "Even my mom said, `T.J., are you going to transfer?' I was like, `Mom, relax. You'll be the first to know.'"

Brennan even showed up for one of the summer-league games, explaining he was "protecting my investment."

But Sorrentine couldn't leave Brennan. And after breaking both wrists during a scrimmage before the 2002-03 season, Sorrentine returned the next season eager to share the ball with Coppenrath.

"When T.J. left, he was the darling," Brennan says. "When he came back [from the injury], people didn't know his name. He could have been a jerk, and he never was, not for a moment. He had the ball, and he passed it to him."

`I love that guy'

It's Jan. 15, the day before Vermont is to face Boston University in a clash of teams with perfect conference records, and Brennan is putting his team through a rigorous 90-minute practice.

Brennan actually is more of an observer. Top assistant Jesse Agel, who joined Brennan in 1988 and hopes to succeed his boss, runs the players through drills.

Suddenly the action stops. Brennan erupts after seeing guard David Hehn fight through a screen with a flying elbow that nearly connects with freshman Ryan Schneider.

"Get the hell out of here!" Brennan yells at Hehn. "Get the hell out of here! That's the third time that's happened."

As a stunned Hehn walks to the locker room, Brennan screams, "And I'll let you know about tomorrow."

A few minutes later, a grinning Brennan explains: "The guy needed a wake-up call. He played right into my hands."

Hehn was an unlikely target for an ejection, considering he's a local favorite for his grit, hustle, well-placed headband (he was named to ESPN.com's "All-Hair" team last year) and eagerness to mingle with fans after games. Not only that, Brennan considers him a surrogate son.

The morning of the Boston U. game, Hehn drove with Sorrentine and Coppenrath to the team's pregame meal at the Rusty Scuffer, a casual downtown restaurant where Brennan has his own booth decorated with Larry Bird posters.

Hehn, a senior, was still angry and embarrassed about getting thrown out of practice. So when he saw Brennan, he pulled his hood over his head. After breakfast, the two apologized and made up.

"It would be the same with my own father," Hehn says. "You cool off, and then everything's all right. I love that guy. I'm going to miss him more than anything."

Hehn had a lousy first half against BU, committing two early fouls and a turnover while getting shut out on points, rebounds and assists. But he nailed a three-pointer to start the second half, sank another five minutes later and fought through the trees for a driving layup to put the game away.

Final score: Vermont 69, Boston U. 58.

While most coaches would try to hide Hehn's infraction to avoid controversy, Brennan brought it up: "He had to leave practice early yesterday. He had some personal commitments that he had to take care of. I wanted to make sure he had the game plan down, so we met for breakfast this morning and, sure enough, he did."

After the game, Hehn apologized to his teammates, later explaining: "That's definitely not me at all. I just lost my cool, and I'm glad I got a chance to contribute and make up for it."